Boy

A simple twist of fate
Unpredicted in spite of the preparation
Sad story, indeed
As the child cries for his father
And daddy’s image begins to fade
Replaced by a stone bearing his name
In a sea of dust to dust
Immaculate lawns littered with pain

She keeps the photos
Protected from her tears, held in plastic
Her child does not understand
At 5, he is now the man
With no father to see him through
To prepare him for his eventual struggles
Forced to be mature and be strong
In this world, he must figure it out on his own

Memories will only last so long
Daddy is not coming home
Not tonight, or ever
Good night, sweet child
The pendulum swings the other direction